Reactor for chemical conversion of a feed with added heat, and crosswise flow of feed and catalyst

Abstract

Described are a reactor for carrying out a chemical conversion process in a catalytic bed with mechanism for supplying heat integrated into the reactor, and with a very compact reaction zone, combined with efficient use of the catalyst, and a process for converting a feed, such as a hydrocarbon feed, undergoing an endothermic reaction using the disclosed reactor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for chemical conversion of a feed comprising
 A) feeding a feed into a chemical conversion reactor containing a substantially vertical catalytic bed comprising 
 a substantially vertical catalytic bed comprising between an upper end and a lower end of the reactor at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones arranged in series to each other with respect to the flow of a feed such that said feed is able to traverse each separate catalytic bed in succession; close to the upper end of the reactor, at least one means for introducing a solid catalyst; 
 means for introducing and evacuating said feed allowing its flow in a substantially horizontal direction through the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones in succession in said catalytic bed; 
 means for heating said feed integrated into said reactor; close to the lower end of the reactor, means for extraction of the catalyst from each of the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones independently of each other, and 
 B) renewing catalyst at a higher rate or more frequently at the downstream portion of the catalytic bed than at the upstream portion of the catalytic bed. 
 
     
     
       2. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , in which the feed is a hydrocarbon feed. 
     
     
       3. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , in which catalytic dehydrogenation of a paraffinic hydrocarbon feed is carried out. 
     
     
       4. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , which is operated at a temperature of 250-950° C. 
     
     
       5. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , wherein catalyst is renewed more rapidly in a downstream portion than in an upstream portion of the catalytic bed. 
     
     
       6. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , wherein in the reactor the means for extraction is selected from continuous and discontinuous extraction means. 
     
     
       7. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , wherein in the reactor the catalytic bed comprises a plurality of catalytic zones separated by non-catalytic zones for heating the feed. 
     
     
       8. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , wherein in the reactor the means for heating said feed integrated into said reactor comprises non catalytic feed heating zones that separate the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytical zones arranged in series from each other. 
     
     
       9. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , in which reforming is carried out. 
     
     
       10. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , in which a cracking reaction is carried out. 
     
     
       11. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 1 , in which a reactor is used for the catalytic reaction of a hydrocarbon feed. 
     
     
       12. A process for chemical conversion of a feed comprising
 A) feeding a feed into a chemical conversion reactor containing a substantially vertical catalytic bed between an upper end and a lower end, and comprising close to the upper end of said reactor, at least one means for introducing a solid catalyst; 
 means for introducing and evacuating said feed allowing its flow in a substantially horizontal direction through the catalytic bed; 
 means for heating said feed integrated into said reactor; 
 means for separating catalyst that is upstream and downstream in the catalytic bed with respect to direction of flow of the feed such that the catalyst contacted upstream by the feed cannot mix with the catalyst contacted downstream by the feed in the catalytic bed where the feed passes through the catalytic bed; 
 said reactor comprises, close to its lower end, at least one means for extraction of the catalyst, 
 said means comprising at least two valves for catalyst extraction from upstream and downstream portions of the catalytic bed, and 
 B) renewing catalyst at a higher rate or more frequently at the downstream portion of the catalytic bed than at the upstream portion of the catalytic bed. 
 
     
     
       13. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 12 , wherein in the reactor the means for heating said feed is performed by the same structure as the means for separating catalyst that is upstream and downstream in the catalytic bed with respect to direction of flow of the feed. 
     
     
       14. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 12 , wherein the reactor further comprises
 a) a hopper ( 7   a ) for catalyst that is removed from the removal port upstream and 
 b) a hopper ( 7   c ) for catalyst that is removed from the removal port downstream. 
 
     
     
       15. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 12 , wherein in the reactor the means for heating said feed is located between each set of two of the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones in succession. 
     
     
       16. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 12 , wherein in the reactor three catalytic beds are present. 
     
     
       17. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 12 , wherein in the reactor the catalytic bed comprises a plurality of catalytic zones separated by non-catalytic zones for heating the feed. 
     
     
       18. A process for chemical conversion of a feed comprising
 A) feeding a feed into a chemical conversion reactor comprising 
 between an upper end and a lower end of the reactor at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones arranged in series to each other with respect to the flow of a feed such that said feed is able to traverse each separate catalytic zone in succession; 
 close to the upper end of the reactor, at least one port for introducing a solid catalyst; 
 an inlet and an outlet for introducing and evacuating said feed allowing its flow in a substantially horizontal direction through the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones in succession; 
 a heat exchanging apparatus integrated into said reactor to heat the feed; 
 close to the lower end of the reactor, valves for extraction of the catalyst from each of the at least two separate substantially vertical catalytic zones independently of each other, and 
 B) renewing catalyst at a higher rate or more frequently at the downstream portion of the catalytic bed than at the upstream portion of the catalytic bed. 
 
     
     
       19. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 18 , wherein in the reactor the heat exchanging apparatus separates catalyst present into the at least two catalytic zones. 
     
     
       20. A chemical conversion process according to  claim 18 , wherein in the reactor three catalytic beds are present.